Uncover your cancer risk with a genetic counselor

Genetic counselors are specially trained health care professionals with skills in medical genetics and counseling who work in a variety of settings, including cancer genetic risk assessment. We provide information and support to families who may be at risk for inherited conditions.

Consider meeting with a genetic counselor if you or a relative (aunts/uncles, grandparents, cousins, parents, siblings, and children):

Have had cancer at a young age (before age 50), and/or

Had two or more separate cancers, and/or

Have multiple family members with cancer

A genetic counselor will evaluate your family health history and talk about risks for inherited cancer, as well as screening and management for those at increased risk. If genetic testing is available, the counselor will tell you about the tests and help you decide if testing would be useful to you.

If you have had cancer, genetic testing may be useful to you and your medical team for making decisions about cancer management.

If you have not had cancer, it can help you understand your risk for cancer and the risks for other members of your family.

In both cases, genetic testing may help you and your medical team make decisions about cancer screening and cancer prevention methods. It could also provide useful information for your family members about their cancer risks.

Protect yourself and your family. Know your family’s cancer history, share it with your doctor and request a consultation with an Affinity Health System cancer genetic counselor. For general inquiries or questions, please call the St. Elizabeth Hospital’s genetics department at (920) 831-1284.

Disclaimer: The information found on Affinity's blog is a general educational aid. Do not rely on this information or treat it as a substitute for personal medical or health care advice, or for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health care provider as soon as possible about any medical or health-related question and do not wait for a response from our experts before such consultation. If you have a medical emergency, seek medical attention immediately.

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